Away from the standard brown furniture, however, there were a number of curiosities; a George III brass cribbage board, for instance. The board was attractively cast with rococo shells and flowers, 11in (28cm) long, and was consigned complete with four brass peg markers. Cribbage being as much of a national pastime as Jane Austen, there was bound to be immense interest in this society appurtenance, the inscription to John and Claire Francett, 1792 adding a frisson of original provenance. Estimated at £100-200, the board was chased to £1100.
Pick of the ceramics was a 19th century Sunderland lustre jug with three panels – one depicting a farmer and his wife beside agricultural trophies, the other with the Sailor’s Farewell and a third with a tall ship and verse, 9in (23cm) high, which was slightly chipped to the spout yet managed to sell at £550.
Ambrose, Loughton, April 5-6
Buyer’s premium: 12.5 per cent
Cribbage board pegs up £1100
UK: Two Victorian mahogany bookcases topped this Ambrose , Essex sale – a library model with four glazed doors and four panel doors, 5ft 8in (1.73m) wide and a straightforward double door bookcase with two frieze drawers, 4ft 6in (1.38m) wide, each attracting bids of £1250.
